Cloth cutting and hemming method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The method and apparatus for fabricating lengths of cloth from a continuous supply of cloth wherein the free end of the supply of cloth is moved onto a cutting platform, prescribed lengths of the continuous supply are cut, and the cut lengths of cloth are then moved in a lateral path with the cut ends disposed generally parallel to the path of travel. One cut end of each of the cut lengths of cloth is hemmed, and the lengths of cloth are then inverted as they are moved through a U-shaped path, and the other end of each length of cloth is hemmed. The hemming function at both ends of the cut lengths of cloth are performed by right handed sewing machines.

I United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,722,435 Elsas 1 Mar. 27, 1973 154] CLOTH CUTTING AND HEMMING 2,757,624 8/1956 Maclsaac ..112/121.11

METHOD AND APPARATUS 445,329 1/1891 Kern 2 K [75] Inventor: Nrman Elsi, Atlanta, a ii sli g ..112/130 [73] Assignee: Nemo Industries, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

Pn'mary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [22] Flled: 1971 Attorney-Jones & Thomas [21] App1.No.: 110,132

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. ..112/121.11, 112/130, 112/262 The method and apparatus for fabricating lengths of 51 Int. Cl. ..D05b 19/00 cloth from a continuous pp y of eleth wherein the 581 Field 61 Search ..112/130, 10, 121.29, 262, free end of the pp y of cloth is moved Onto a cutting 121.11, 112/121 15 platform, prescribed lengths of the continuous supply are cut, and the cut lengths of cloth are then moved in a lateral path with the cut ends disposed generally [56] References Cited parallel to the path of travel. One cut end of each of the cut lengths of cloth is hemmed, and the lengths of UNITED STATES PATENTS cloth are then inverted as they are moved through a 692,887 2/1902 Millhiseretal 112 10 P P and'the end of each length of 2,546,831 2/1951 Newell ..112/121.11 cloth is The hemming u t n at th nds 3,580,198 5/1971 Teed etal.... .....112/121.11 of the cut lengths of cloth are performed by right 2,332,324 10/1943 Lee et a1 ..1 12/10 handed sewing machines. 3,126,657 3/1964 Hajos ..1l2/l21.29 X 3,227,119 1/1966 Gore et a1 ..112/10 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATEHTFDm-mmm SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR NORMAN E. ELSAS ATTORNEYS PATET-HEEH.-\R27l975 7 2,435

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR NORMAN f. ELSAS CLOTH CUTTING AND HEMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture of lengths of material or cloth, such as towels, diapers, wiping rags, etc., the cloth lengths usually are manufactured by cutting lengths of cloth from a generally continuous supply of cloth, and hemming or otherwise treating the cut ends of the cloth lengths to prevent the ends from raveling. Cloth lengths usually were processed through sewing machines by hand with the sewing machine operator guiding the cut ends of the cloth lengths through the machine to perform the hemming process. While some automated machinery has been developed to relieve the machine operators from continuous and close observation and control of the machines used for hemming the cloth lengths, it is still necessary for the cut lengths of cloth to be cut, accumulated in stacks, and then fed into sewing machines in separate steps. This requires the manual handling of the cloth lengths between and during the separate steps and the services of various sewing machine operators and attendants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a method and apparatus for cutting lengths of cloth or other material from a generally continuous supply, and then automatically trimming and hemming the ends of the cloth lengths in a continuous mechanical process which does not require the manual handling of the cloth lengths between the steps of feeding the continuous supply to the apparatus and receiving the stacks of hemmed cloth lengths. The continuous supply of cloth is continuously fed to a cutting station where it is cut, and the cut lengths are then moved in a U-shaped path generally normal to the direction from which the continuous supply was fed to orient the cut ends in an attitude parallel to the direction of movement of the cut lengths. As the cut lengths of cloth are conveyed through a U-shaped path the hemming function for one cut end is performed in one leg of the U-shaped path and the hemmingfunction of the other cut end is performed in the other leg of the U-shaped path, which enables both hemming functions to be performed with right handed sewing machines.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming hemmed lengths of material from a generally continuous source of material in a continuous, automatic,.mechanical process.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, durable and versatile apparatus for rapidly and accurately cutting and hemming or otherwise treating the cut ends of lengths of material.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. I shows a generally continuous supply 10 of cloth, material or similar flat goods. Supply 10 is shown in the form of a reel of cloth supported in a rotatable manner so that the free end of the cloth can be pulled from the reel by a first pair of feed rollers 1 1. A second pair of feed rollers 12 feeds the free end of the cloth supply to a cutting station 14 where it is cut into cut lengths of cloth 15. The cut length 15a is then transferred away from the first path toward a second U- shaped path. As cut length 15b moves through the first leg of the U-shaped path, its out edge 16b is treated as desired, as by trimming and hemming with a chain link stitch. The chain stitch is continuous and is trimmed as cut length begins to pass around the curved portion of the U-shaped path. The cut length l5e has its out edge 17c trimmed and hemmed in the same manner as cut length 15b and thechain link stitch is cut between the cut lengths of cloth. The cut lengths are then automatically stacked in a pile 18 by any conventional stacking equipment.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the first pair of feed rollers 1 1 function to feed the continuous length of material to a weighing pan 20, and the second pair of feed rolls 12 function to withdraw the material from the weighing pan and move the material to the cutting station and feed determined lengths of material onto conveying tapes 26 supported on table 22. Weighing pan 20 is arranged to terminate the rotation of feed rollers 1 1 after a prescribed amount of the material is present in the weighing pan. The second set of feed rollers 12 operate intermittently, and cutting blade 21 is positioned adjacent feed rollers 12 and is actuated by pneumatic cutting ram 23 to cut the continuous lengths of cloth.

Cutting station 14 comprises a cutting table or transfer platform 22, conveyor rollers .24 and 25 at the opposite ends of the cutting table, and spaced conveyor belts or tapes 26 which include upper flights that extend across the surface of cutting table 22 and lower or 45 return flights which extend beneath thetable. Parallel linkagev or pantograph 28' is secured to one end of cutting table 22 and extends over, the cutting table. Parallel linkage 28 includes fstationary or power arm 29, swingingarms 30 and 31, and support or movable arm 32. Gripping member 34 is rigidly connected to support arm 32. Pneumatic ram 35 is positioned at the end of cutting table 22 and functions to operate power arm 29, to impart movement to the parallel linkage 28. The swinging arms 30 and 31 are pivotally supported at their ends adjacent power arm 29,30 that a small movement of the power arm 29 under the influence of pneumatic ram 35 causes a large arcuate movement of support arm 32 and gripping member 34.

Lifting arm 36 is located below swinging arms 30 and 31 of parallel linkage 28. Lifting arm 36 is disposed in a horizontal attitude, and its pneumatic ram 37 functions to raise and lower the lifting arm into and out of engagement with swinging arms 30 and 31. This functions to lift and lower gripping member 34 with respect to cutting table 22 beyond the last conveying tape, so that the gripping member is lowered into contact with each cut length of cloth 15 at its edge adjacent transfer table 38, grasps the length of cloth, and then the gripping member is lifted away from the cutting table while the parallel linkage 28 pivots, Ram functions to swing the parallel linkage rapidly toward transfer table 38 so that the cut length of material is cleared from cutting table 22 and the cutting table is ready for another cycle of operation. The arc of movement of parallel linkage 28 is adjusted so that the cut edges of the length of material are properly positioned for subsequent steps in the process. Gripping member 34 can be formed of any conventional design, and can comprise a suction device, a clamp device, movable needle device, or virtually any device compatible with the material being cut and hemmed. The actuation of the gripping member 34 is through an air conduit, described more fully hereinafter.

Gripping member 34 functions to transfer the cut lengths of cloth from cutting table 22 across transfer table 38 toward U-shaped conveyor 39. U-shaped conveyor 39 is arranged so that it moves the cut lengths of cloth through a U-shaped path which is generally normal to the direction of movement of the continuous length of material from supply 10. Work table 40 is positioned at the upper leg of the U-shaped path, while work table 41 is positioned at the lower leg of the U- shaped path. The cylindrical drum 42 forms the curved portion of the U-shaped path and is rotatably mounted on axle 44. A plurality of pulley sheaves 45 are mounted on axle 46 between transfer table 38 and work table 40, while a plurality of pulley sheaves 48 are mounted on axle 49 adjacent work table 41. A plurality of conveyor belts or tapes 50 are guided by pulley sheaves 45 and 48 and cylindrical drum 42 along the upper surfaces of work table 40 and 41. A second plurality of conveyor belts or tapes 51 are guided into abutting relationship with the first plurality of conveyor tapes 50 by means of pulley sheaves 52 on axle 54, pulley sheaves 55 on axle 56, pulley sheaves 58 on axle 59, and pulley sheaves 60 an axle 61. The arrangement is such that continuous conveyor tapes 50 move in the direction as indicated by arrow 62 from transfer table 38 toward tangential engagement with drum 42. As the conveyor tapes 50 move in this direction, the abutting conveyor tapes 51 move in the direction asindicated by arrow 64 until they pass around pulley sheaves 52, whereupon they are guided into abutting relationship with conveyor tapes 50 and move in unison therewith about cylindrical drum 42. After both pluralities of conveyor tapes move about cylindricaldrum 42, they move in unison over work table 41 until they emerge between the plurality of pulley sheaves 48 and 60, whereupon tapes 50 move back toward pulley sheaves 45 and tapes 51 return below work table 41 beyond cylindrical drum 42, and then above work table 40.

Sewing machine 65 is of conventional construction and is positioned at the edge of work table 40 and is the type that functions to trim the edge of the material being fed thereto and to form a chain link stitch about the edge of the material. In addition to the sewing machine, there is included an attachment (not shown) which functions to trim any loose thread, including the loose chain link stitch formed by the sewing machine extending between the cut lengths of cloth. Thus, sewing machine 65 and its attachment functions to trim or edge the cut lengths of cloth, hem the edges of the lengths of cloth, and trim the chain link stitch extending between the lengths of cloth. These functions are represented in a schematic fashion in FIG. 1.

Sewing machine 66 is positioned at the edge of lower work table 41 on the opposite side of the U-shaped path from sewing machine 65. Sewing machine 66 is substantially identical to sewing machine 65, and both of the sewing machines are right handed machines.

Sewing machine 65 and 66 normally will operate continuously, as will U-shaped conveyor 39. The conveyor and sewing machines operate in unison, that is, the sewing machines operate at a speed compatible with the speed of U-shaped conveyor 39,

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a control means is provided for operating cutting blade 21 and gripping member 34. A photo-electric cell 68 is positioned above cutting table 22 at cutting station 14, and a light source 69 is positioned below the cutting station. A second photo-cell 70 is positioned above U-shaped conveyor 39 at its infeed end and a light source 71 is positioned below work table 40. The movement of the leading or free end of the continuous length of cloth across the cutting table 22 eventually causes the light from source 69 to be blocked from photo-electric cell 68, causing a change in condition, causing solenoid .valve 72 to shift and feed rolls 12 to stop. Solenoid valve 72 is connected between a source of air under pressure 74 and cutting ram 23, parallel linkage ram 35 and lifting arm ram 37. When solenoid valve 72 is shifted in this manner, the feed rolls have stopped and cutting blade 21 is lowered and functions to sever the continuous length of material and form a cut length of material on cutting table 22. In the meantime, lifting arm ram 37 functions to lower its lifting arm 36 and parallel linkage 28, causing gripping member 34 to move down into contact with the length of material on cutting table 22. The air from solenoid valve 72 also communicates with gripping member 34, causing its gripping elements to function to grasp the cut length of cloth. Parallel linkage ram 35 causes gripping member 34 to move from cutting table 22 across transfer table 38 toward U-shaped conveyor 39.

As gripping member 34 moves in this manner, it eventually breaks the light source to photo-electric cell 70. This causes solenoid valve 72 to shift back to its original position and cause the high pressure air from air source 74 to communicate with the opposite ends of pneumatic rams 23, 35 and 37, which causes gripping member 35 to release the cloth length and be raised and moved back to its original position above cutting table 22. The retraction of cutting blade 21 can also be controlled by the shifting of solenoid valve 72, or in order to more quickly retract the cutting blade a separated pneumatic circuit can be utilized (not shown).

The movement of gripping member 34 toward U- shaped conveyor 39 is of a distance suitable to cause the cut length of cloth to be released on conveyor tapes 50 at a position where the cut length of cloth will ride through the U-shaped conveyor 39. The arc of movement of gripping member 34 can be lengthened or shortened by moving photo-electric cell 70 toward U- shaped conveyor 39 or toward cutting table 22. This allows the position at which the cut lengths of cloth are released on U-shaped conveyor 39 to be adjusted so that the trailing cut 'edge can be moved into proper alignment with sewing machine 65. In a similar manner, photo-electric cell 68 at cutting table 22 can be repositioned to cause a longer or shorter length of the continuous length of material to be cut, thereby lengthening or shortening the cut length of material.

The control circuitry of FIG. 3 can be modified to include a control for the driving element of the second pair of feed rollers 12, so that these rollers will cease their feeding function as the cut lengths of cloth are being transferred from cutting table 22 to U-shaped conveyor 39. Of course, the speed of operation of parallel linkage 28 can be so rapid that the second pair of feed rollers 12 can operate as soon as the cut length of cloth is clear of line of material being fed. Moreover, conveyor tapes 26 of cutting table 22 normally will be driven at a surface speed higher than the feed rate of the second pair of feed rollers 12. With this arrangement, when the material is fed onto cutting table 22, the conveyor tapes will tend to draw the material out and any wrinkles, folds, creases, etc. will tend to be stretched out as the material passes onto cutting table 22. The conveyor tapes 26 of cutting table 22 normally will be driven continuously.

As the cut lengths of material are dropped onto conveyor tapes 50 of U-shaped conveyor 39, they tend to ride in between the abutting tapes 51, so that a positive grip is applied to the cut lengths of cloth as the cut edge reaches sewing machine 65. Any vibration or other disrupting influence encountered by the cut lengths of cloth will not function to dislodge the cut lengths of cloth from the positive grip of the U-shaped conveyor 39 and this positive grip is maintained on the cut lengths of cloth as they travel about cylindrical drum 42 and over lower work table 41 into sewing machine 66.

Sewing machine 66 is supported in an adjustable mounting (not shown) so that the sewing machine can, be moved toward or away from U-shaped conveyor 39. This enables sewing machine 66 to function properly in trimming and hemming shorter or longer lengths of cloth. For instance, when photo-electric cell 68 is moved closer to cutting blade 21 to cause the cutting blade to cycle early and cut short lengths of cloth, it will be necessary to reposition sewing machine 66 closer to U-shaped conveyor 39 so that the cut edge of the cut length of cloth will be properly trimmed and hemmed. If necessary, the conveyor tapes shown adjacent sewing machine 66 can be removed and sewing machine 66 can be moved far over toward the center of U-shaped conveyor 39 to accommodate extremely short lengths of cloth.

While photo-electric cells 68 and 70 have been illustrated as the adjustable control elements in the system, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other detecting and control devices can be utilized. For instance, the system can be controlled with the use of micro-switches, or a measuring device can be applied to the second pair of feed rollers 12 to detect the exact length of material extending from the rollers. Also, various pressure sensitive devices, wands or other detective devices can be utilized. Moreover, the simplified control system of FIG. 3 is presented by way of example only, and it will be understood that various other integral control systems or separate control systems can be utilized to cause the various elements of the system to properly function. While the treating of cut edges has been disclosed as trimming and hemming with a chain stitch, the cut edges can be treated in various other ways, as by turning and hemming, turning and applying an adhesive, the application of a sealing plastic, etc.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for fabricating lengths of cloth or the like from a continuous supply of cloth comprising a transfer platform, feed means for feeding the end of a generally continuous supply of cloth in a first path onto said transfer platform, sensing means for determining when a predetermined length of cloth has been fed onto said transfer platform, cutting means responsive to said sensing means for cutting a length of cloth on said transfer platform from the supply of cloth, conveyor means for moving the cut length of cloth in a U- shaped path generally normal to the first path, transfer means responsive to said sensing means for urging the cut length of cloth from said transfer platform toward said conveyor means, first edge treating means positioned at one side of said conveyor means in one leg of the U-shaped path for treating one cut edge of the cut length of cloth as the cut length of cloth moves along the U-shaped path, and second edge treating means positioned at the other side of said conveyor means in the other leg of the U-shaped path for treating the other cut edge of the cut length of cloth as the cut length of cloth moves along the U-shaped path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said con veyor means comprises a cylindrical drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a first plurality of conveyor belts extending about and engaging said cylindrical drum in an arc of approximately about its curved surface, and a second plurality of conveyor belts urged into engagement with and movable with the first plurality of conveyor belts.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said first and second edge treating means each comprise hemming means constructed and arranged to form a thread chain between the edges of adjacent ones of the cut lengths of cloth, and further comprising cutting means at the sides of the U-shaped path for cutting the thread chains.

4. A method of continuously fabricating cloth lengths or the like comprising moving a continuous length of cloth along its length, cutting lengths of cloth away from the continuous length of cloth at a cutting station, moving at least two conveyor belts into abutment with each other then along a U-shaped path through a first horizontal leg in a direction normal to the length of the continuous length of cloth at the cutting station, around the annular surface of a rotating drum, then through a second horizontal leg, and parting the conveyor belts, moving each cloth length cut from the continuous length of cloth in series into the conveyor belts as the conveyor belts come into abutment with each other and along the U-shaped path with the conveyor belts with the cut ends of the cloth lengths extending along the direction of the path, sequentially treating one end of each cloth length as it moves along the first horizontal leg of the U-shaped path, and sequentially treating the other cut end of each cloth length as it moves along the second horizontal leg of the U-shaped path.

5. The method of claim 4 and wherein the steps of treating the cut ends of the cloth lengths comprises cloth, treating one of the cut ends of each length of cloth as the lengths of cloth move along the second path, inverting the lengths of cloth, moving the lengths of cloth along a third path in a direction opposite the second path, and treating the other cut ends of the lengths of cloth as the lengths of cloth move along the third path.

7. The method of claim 6 and wherein the step of feeding the continuous length of cloth from a supply of cloth along a first path comprises feeding the leading end of the continuous length of cloth past a cutting device until a predetermined length of the cloth has moved past the cutting device, and terminating the feeding of the continuous length of cloth until the step of cutting the cloth has occurred and the step of moving the cut length of cloth along the second path has begun. 

1. Apparatus for fabricating lengths of cloth or the like from a continuous supply of cloth comprising a transfer platform, feed means for feeding the end of a generally continuous supply of cloth in a first path onto said transfer platform, sensing means for determining when a predetermined length of cloth has been fed onto said transfer platform, cutting means responsive to said sensing means for cutting a length of cloth on said transfer platform from the supply of cloth, conveyor means for moving the cut length of cloth in a U-shaped path generally normal to the first path, transfer means responsive to said sensing means for urging the cut length of cloth from said transfer platform toward said conveyor means, first edge treating means positioned at one side of said conveyor means in one leg of the U-shaped path for treating one cut edge of the cut length of cloth as the cut length of cloth moves along the U-shaped path, and second edge treating means positioned at the other side of said conveyor means in the other leg of the U-shaped path for treating the other cut edge oF the cut length of cloth as the cut length of cloth moves along the U-shaped path.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said conveyor means comprises a cylindrical drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a first plurality of conveyor belts extending about and engaging said cylindrical drum in an arc of approximately 180* about its curved surface, and a second plurality of conveyor belts urged into engagement with and movable with the first plurality of conveyor belts.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said first and second edge treating means each comprise hemming means constructed and arranged to form a thread chain between the edges of adjacent ones of the cut lengths of cloth, and further comprising cutting means at the sides of the U-shaped path for cutting the thread chains.
 4. A method of continuously fabricating cloth lengths or the like comprising moving a continuous length of cloth along its length, cutting lengths of cloth away from the continuous length of cloth at a cutting station, moving at least two conveyor belts into abutment with each other then along a U-shaped path through a first horizontal leg in a direction normal to the length of the continuous length of cloth at the cutting station, around the annular surface of a rotating drum, then through a second horizontal leg, and parting the conveyor belts, moving each cloth length cut from the continuous length of cloth in series into the conveyor belts as the conveyor belts come into abutment with each other and along the U-shaped path with the conveyor belts with the cut ends of the cloth lengths extending along the direction of the path, sequentially treating one end of each cloth length as it moves along the first horizontal leg of the U-shaped path, and sequentially treating the other cut end of each cloth length as it moves along the second horizontal leg of the U-shaped path.
 5. The method of claim 4 and wherein the steps of treating the cut ends of the cloth lengths comprises trimming and sewing the cloth lengths at their ends.
 6. A method of continuously fabricating lengths of cloth or the like from a continuous supply of cloth comprising feeding a continuous length of cloth from a supply along a first path, continually cutting predetermined lengths of the cloth away from the continuous length of cloth as the continuous length of cloth moves along the first path, moving the cut lengths of cloth along a second path approximately normal to the first path without changing the attitude of the cut lengths of cloth, treating one of the cut ends of each length of cloth as the lengths of cloth move along the second path, inverting the lengths of cloth, moving the lengths of cloth along a third path in a direction opposite the second path, and treating the other cut ends of the lengths of cloth as the lengths of cloth move along the third path.
 7. The method of claim 6 and wherein the step of feeding the continuous length of cloth from a supply of cloth along a first path comprises feeding the leading end of the continuous length of cloth past a cutting device until a predetermined length of the cloth has moved past the cutting device, and terminating the feeding of the continuous length of cloth until the step of cutting the cloth has occurred and the step of moving the cut length of cloth along the second path has begun. 